Book Title: Rook
Author: Stella MacDonald
Publish Date: November 21st, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Plot:
Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.
Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.
Why I Read this Book: I received a copy of this book for review purposes as part of a blog tour hosted by I'm a Reader, Not A Writer with permission from the author. This in no way influenced my review.
Review
This book had me interested form the beginning. With a mix of contemporary and paranormal young adult writing, I was intrigued by the plot from the beginning. The mystery of what was happening was enthralling. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the writing style. I thought the ending was incredibly strange, but I enjoyed how strange and unique the ending was. Spoiler: I did not enjoy that the story included reincarnation and magic.
Final Statements
Recommended Reading Age: Any
Overall Rating: 4/5
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Praise for Rook
"This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars
"Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars
“Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars
Author Stella MacDonaldStella is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.
Blog Tour Giveaway
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Ends 1/24/14
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Excerpts
Excerpt 1
Is that him? Is he back?
My legs jerked, kicking and twitching me around to face the sound. I managed to roll slightly, knocking against a soft, solid object at my feet. It grunted weakly, and immediately I recoiled as though I had been bitten. Squinting, I stared, willing my eyes to find light in the dark, but there was nothing.
The sound of the runner drew closer, as if they would trample me any moment. A dim, swaying light appeared through the trees, burning away the inky edges of the deep shadows. When light and sound were almost upon me, branches above me snapped, spraying me in a shower of dried pine needles and snow.
Except 2:
Sean’s dark eyes had not been distracted from mine for a moment. I blushed under the heat of his watch, brushing a nervous hand through my hair. I wondered how long it would be before I could stop turning red every time I felt something.
"I really thought it was just me," I said, needing to fill the silence. "I didn't think you would feel the same way."
"No," he admitted, "It's not been just you for a long time." He kissed my forehead and then turned back to the trail, this time leading me by the hand.
All our lives, there was him, and there was me, and then there was that third being that was us. We had fed that friendship and helped it grow, but it was always just a friendship that remained as familiar to us as we were to ourselves. Now, the us had changed completely. I felt like it was a bigger, more beautiful thing, and it frightened me in a delicious, hopeful way.
Excerpt 3
“Sean.”
My finger ran softly over my lips, remembering just how they felt pressed gently against Sean’s mouth. The small, intense thrill that raced through me felt like it might cleave me apart.
From nowhere, doubt wormed its unwelcome fingers into my mind, forcing my eyes open to face some ugly possibilities. Did Sean feel the same now as he did last night? Or, had he just been caught up in the moment? I ached at the possibility, and instantly thought of a million ways to convince him he was wrong. But what if I couldn’t convince him?
He might have changed his mind, but maybe he was surer than ever, I reminded myself, shoring up my resolve. I considered my old standby of just wait and see. I could give him space; let him decide the next move, but I dismissed the idea almost instantly. This time, I wasn't going to give in like I always did, even if Sean was having second thoughts. Today, I decided, I was going to be brave.
Mine.
